Illuminated fence



' March 4 1958 D. 1. LANE/ION ILLUMINATED FENCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. s,- 1955 INVEHT'OR. I. MNMa/v March 4, 1958 b. 1. LANMON I2,825,796

ILLUMINATED FENCE Filed Sept. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNl/ENTOR DWIGHTI. LANMUN M Q/Agf MW 14 7' TORNE V5.

United States This invention relates to means for illuminating a fenceinclosure and more particularly to a means for installing electricallamps in fence posts and the running of electrical lead lines thereto.

The lighting of fences and the vicinity adjacent thereto is old and inmany instances such lighting is not only desirable but necessary. Themethod herebefore has been to mount a lamp on top of the post, but suchoutside lamps are subject to the weather, breakage, and are unsightly.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention is to provide afence post wherein the illuminating means is housed inside the post.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fence structure andpost that facilitates the running and housing of the electrical leadlines to the internally illuminated fence posts.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide an illuminatedfencing that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and refinedin appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an inside view of my lightable fence structure,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of the top of one of my postsand the fence railing showing the mithod of passing electrical leadwires from one to the ot er,

Fig. 3 is an enlargedperspective view of the element for securing thetop fence pipe to a post and with a section cut away to more fullyillustrate its construction,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan sectional view of one corner of my fence,

Fig. 5 is a side view of the upper portion of my fence adjacent anopening such as a gate, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the elements that go to make up theilluminating phase of one of my fence posts.

My fence may be used to completely enclose an area, or it can be placedacross a back yard, the side of the yard, in front of a yard, or it mayextend from a building 19 or like. Wire mesh fences often are ofsections, with the sections secured together by suitable means. The typeof wire mesh and its specific structure is of no particular significanceto this invention inasmuch as my invention is confined to the structureof the posts, and the hollow horizontal pipe at the top of the fence orlink mesh. 11. In general the lamp area of each post follows a commonpattern. I have used the numeral 12 to designate the lower portion of apost and the numeral 13 to designate the upper portion of a post. Bothof these two portions are tubular as shown in Fig. 6. The numeral 14designates a tubular section having a slot opening 15 atent O PatentedMar. 4, 1958 2 extending its entire longitudinal length. This member 14may be formed from a sheet of metal bent to arcuate form and is of thesame diameter as the post portions 12 and 13. In each end of the member14 is a tubular collar 16 and 17, respectively. These tubular collarsmay be secured in place by any suitable means such as welding and theyprotrude beyond the ends of the member 14 as shown in Fig. 6. When thepost is assembled, the tubular collar 16 extends into the post part 12and the tubular collar 17 extends into the post part 13. These postparts may be secured by any suitable means, but for quick assembly ordisassembly I recommend bolts or screws 18. Such bolts or screws mayalso be used to hold the arcuate frame 19 over the slot opening 15, byalso passing through the bottom and top area respectively of the frame.If desired the hole or holes through which the bolts pass through theframe may be in the form of a slot 20. This frame 19 holds back of it anarcuate lens or glass 21, thus detachably sealing the opening 15. Insidethe member 14 and adjacent the opening 15 I provide any suitableincandescent light bulb 22, detachably held in an ordinary light socket23, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The lamp used may be of theincandescent or fluorescent type. Each of the posts used may be of thesame general construction this far described. The wire fence sectionsmay be secured to the posts by any means such as side standards 24 andbrackets 25 as shown in Fig. 1. However, the securing of the top fencepipe and its construction requires different treatment inasmuch as I usethe same to carry and house the electrical circuit leading into thevarious posts. 7

Embracing each corner post I secure a collar 26 having two spaced apartears 27. The numeral 28 designates a cup adapted to embrace the end of atop fence tube pipe 29. The numeral 30 designates a bar 30 projectingfrom the rear of the cup and adapted to extend between two ears 27 of acollar 26 as shown in Fig. 5. A bolt 31 detachably extends through thebar 39 and cars 27 rigidly securing the cup to the post. With such a cupsupporting means at each end of a top horizontal fence pipe 29, suchpipe will be successfully supported. With the bar 30 extendingrearwardly and downwardly, the top of a post need not be much higherthan that of the pipe ,29 as shown in Fig. 2. Ordinarily there will beonly one hole in a cup 29 to receive a flexible conduit 32. However,when a postcarries the electric circuit beyond its lamp, such as theleftcorner post of Fig. 1, two holes in one of the cups is necessary inorder to carry the second flexible conduit 33,,from one cup to the othercup. The numeral 34 designates a cap on the top of the corner or endposts. The intermediate posts 35 are similar to the other posts exceptthey have a different top structure and they terminate just below thetop fence pipe 29. These posts 35 have a fiat top inverted cup cap 36.On the top of this cap 36, l secure a horizontal Z 37. The numeral 38designates an inverted U-bracket having its two ends secured to the topand bottom respectively of the Z member 37 as shown in Fig. 3. Thisbracket 38 is adapted to extend around the fence pipe 29 and hold it ontop of the post 35, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired a screw or bolt 39may extend through the bracket to better secure the fence pipe therein.If desired, the top fence pipe may have a detachable section 40 where itis embraced by the bracket. Such structure is shown in Fig. 2 and thesection is of cylinder structure having the two spaced apart internalbeads 41 near its center, which act as stops to the two ends of thepipes 29 that detachably extend into its two ends. The cap 36 has a holeinside the confines of the Z-member and this is also true of the section40 to permit electric lead wires to pass from inside of the section 46to the inside of the post 35. This electrical circuit 45 extends throughthe conduits 32,

and 33, the fence top rail pipes 29, and sections 40, and into the postsfor contact with the lamp sockets therein. When this electrical circuitis in communication with a source of electrical energy, thelamp will beilluminated and the light therefrom will pass through the openings 15,transparent or translucent glass 21, and into the fence area. Thus, byonly one electrical switch the fence and its surrounding area may besuccessfully illuminated. The entire effect is refined and attractive.The electrical means is successfully shielded and housed against theweather. Once installed my'illuminated fence is most durable andrequires little upkeep. By being in assemblable sections the fence maybe installed to accommodate different sized areas.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of myilluminated fence without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

- 1. In an illuminated fence, a hollow post having an opening in theside wall thereof spaced from its ends, a light passing member over saidopening, an electric lamp inside said post, a horizontal tubular fencerail, a cup enclosing an end of said rail and having a hole in its sidewall, a bar on the back of said cup, a means on said post securing saidbar to said post, a means on the top of said post for closing itstop, aflexible conduit communicating with the inside of said post and the holein said cup, and electrical conductors residing in said rail, saidconduit, and said post and in electrical connection with said lamp.

2. In an illuminated fence, a hollow post having an opening in the sidewall thereof spaced from its ends,

a light passing member over said opening, an electric lamp inside saidpost, a horizontaltubular fence rail, a cup enclosing an end of saidrail and having a hole in its side wall, a bar on the back of said cup,a means on said post detachably securing said bar to said post, a meanson the top of said post for closing its top, a flexible conduitcommunicating with the inside of said post and the hole in said cup, andelectrical conductors residing in said rail, said conduit, and said postand in electrical connection with said lamp.

3. In an illuminated fence, a hollow post having an opening in the sidewall thereof spaced from its ends, a light passing member over saidopening, an electric lamp inside said post, a horizontal tubular fencerail associated with said post, an inverted cap on the top of said post,a horizontal Z-member on the top of said cap, a bracket band operativelysecured at its two ends to said post and extending around said rail;said rail having a hole and said cap having a hole confined in the areaof said Z-member, and electrical conductors in said rail and extendingthrough its hole, the hole in said cap, and into said post andelectrically connected to said lamp.

4. In an illuminated fence post, a lower tubular section, an uppertubular section, an intermediate tubular section having an opening, atubular collar extending from the lower end of said intermediate sectioninto the top of said lower tubular section, a tubular section, a tubularcollar extending from the upper end of said intermediate tubular sectioninto the bottom of said upper tubular section, an arcuate frame memberembracing the opening in said intermediate section, a light passingshield back of said frame; said intermediate section adapted to hold anelectric lamp, and a means on said post for connecting a. fence railingthereto.

5. In an illuminated fence post, a lower tubular section, an uppertubular section, an intermediate tubular section having an opening, atubular collar'extending from the lower end of said intermediate sectioninto the top of said lower tubular section, a tubular collar extendingfrom the upper end of said intermediate tubular section into the bottomof said upper tubular section, an arcuate frame member detachablyembracing the opening in said intermediate section, a light passingshield back of said frame; said intermediate section adapted to hold anelectric lamp, and a means on said post for connecting a fence railingthereto.

6. In an illuminated fence post, a lower tubular section, an uppertubular section, an intermediate tubular section having an opening, atubular collar extending from the lower end of said intermediate sectioninto the top of said lower tubular section, a means for detachablysecuring said tubular collar to said lower tubular member, a tubularcollar extending from the upper end of said intermediate tubular sectioninto the bottom of said upper tubular section, a means for detachablysecuring said second tubular collar to said upper tubular memher, anarcuate frame member embracing the opening in said intermediate section,a light passing shield back of said frame; said intermediate sectionadapted to hold an electric lamp, and a means on said post forconnecting a fence railing thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSLongberg Aug 16, 1949

